Operation 021 slated to release on Independence Day

The release date of the first spy theatrical
film by One Motion Pictures and Azad Film Co has been confirmed. The much anticipated
film is tentatively scheduled to release all across Pakistan on August 14 and
is expected to be seen on 55-58 screens.

However, what could eventually be an achievement
for Pakistani cinema is that this film may also get a simultaneous international
release and that too in around 20 different countries.

Since August 14 is falling on a Thursday, the
producers seem to be capitalising on the long weekend that will follow, to
generate as much business as possible.
This will also save them from the Bollywood influx of big budget Eid
releases and give Operation 021 clear running cinemas across its release
circuits.

Even though it is too early to make box office
predictions, given the long weekend and the Shaan factor, the film may give
Waar a tough time at the box office. So far, Waar holds the position of the
highest grossing Pakistani film with a total business of Rs 230 million and
Bollywood film Dhoom 3 is the highest earning film ever in Pakistan with a
total business of around Rs 240 million.

Zeba Bakhtiar and her son Azaan Sami Khan’s
latest venture is based on real life political events in Pakistan, including
the bombing of Nato tanks in Afghanistan. It is an attempt to establish this
new genre in the Pakistan film industry and to experiment with it on a broader
and serious platform. In order to meet international standards, latest
technology and gadgets have been used in the making of this film. The film was
previously titled The Extortionist.